Nutcracker



Feb. 10, 1931. J. WIL-:MERS l .1,791,992

Filed Jan. y12, 1929 r E/: d' 'KJ/ /g [Z 5 WJEJZIETE 45,45 I /0 v /0 6 4 1- a @M MW@ Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITEDy STATES JOHN wrnmnns, Yor' MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN NUTCRACKER Application filed .Tanuary'12, 1929. Serial No. 332,056.

This invention relatesto nut crackers.

Objects of this invention are to provide a nut cracker having a body por-tion provided with a handle and a rigid head, and associated with a rocking member provided with a handle; the nut cracker having a movable head so related to the rocking member that it may be readily slid into engagement with any size of nut, and thereafter may be forced against the nut by operating the handle of the rocking member.

More specifically, objects of this invention are to provide a nut cracker in which the body portion carrying the stationary head is provided with guides slidably holding the movable head, with the movable head providedV with a rearwardly extending ratchet toothed member, and wi-th the rocking member provided with a pawl adapted to engage any of the teeth of the ratchet member.

Further obj ects are to provide a nut cracker which is very simple to assemble, which is cheap to construct, and which is serviceable and of rugged construction.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts in section.

Figure 2 is a further sectional view showing details of the stop, or stroke limiting mechanism. Y

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line .E5-#3 ot Figure 1. Y

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the body portion 1 is substantially of T- shaped cross section (see particularly Figures 1 and 3). The body portion is provided with a lower strengthening web 2 and with a rigid head 3, which may, if desired, be recessed or 4G roughened. The body portion is provided at the end opposite the head with a handle 4.

Further, the body portion is provided with a pair of upwardly extending ears or lips 5 provided with inwardly directed spaced lugs 6,

@5 as shown most clearly in Figure 2.

The movable or slidable head 7 is supported by the body portion and adapted to slide thereon, and is provided with inwardly turned lower lips 8 which embrace and slide upon 59 the marginal edges or anges of the body portion. This movable head may be recessed or roughened similarly to the stationary head, as is apparent from Figurerl, and is provided With a rearwardly projecting portion 9, having ratchet teeth on its upper face.

The rearwardly extending portion is also provided with side flanges 10 which fit beneath the stops or lugsv 6. This rearwardly extending portion therefore, is guided by the upturned ears 5 of the body portion.

A rocking member 11 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 12, extendingthrough such rocking member andv through the ears f5.

A spring is provided for urging the rocking member towards `its uppermost position. 65 This spring is provided with looped or coiled portions 13, a yoke 14, and varms 15. The yoke 14 bears against the under-side of the rocking member, and the arms 15 bear against the faces of the ears 5.

The rocking member 11 is provided with a manipulating handle 16 which, together with the handle 14, operates like a pair of pliers, and may be easily grasped by the hand of the operator. p

The rocking member is provided with a recess 17 within which the-upper end of a pawl 18 sockets. This pawl is pressed outwardly by means of a spring 19 seated within a socket formed in therocking member, als shown in Figure 1. The pawl is provided with a beveled lower end which normally clears the ratchet teeth 9, but is adapted to engage the ratchet teeth when the rocking member is moved downwardly.

l Tt is to be further noted from Figure 1 that the pawl is provided with a transverse notch which receives a pin 20 carried by the rocking member.

In assembling the device, use is made of the e() cut-away portions 21 of the webs or side flanges of the body portion. The lips 8 of the movable head are passed through this cutaway part and are thereafter slipped backwardly so as to slide into engagement with the bodyportion, and thus interlock with such body portion. The rearwardly extending portion of the movable head is guided as previously described by the ears 5. The movablev or rocking member is then assembled by passing the pin 12 therethrough and through the ears 5. Preferably, this pin has its ends riveted to hold it in place. The pin 20, it will be noted, projects beyond the side faces of the rocking member and receives the looped or coiled portions 13 ot' the spring, as is apparent from Figure 3.

Thus, .itn is clear that the dev-ice is very'easy to assemble and is of relatively simple construction.

In using the device, a-nut is placed against the stationary head and the movable headis slid into contact with the nut; the ratchet teeth 9 freely passing beneaththelpawl 18. Thereafter, the handle 16 is rocked downwardly toward the handle et and the movable head is iorced toward the stationary head, thus cracking the nut.

VConsiderable leverage is provided by thisl construction and thus an easy operation of the apparatus is secured. In addition to this, it is to be noted that this device can be used to crack any size nut, from the smallest to the largest, with equal ease, as the movable head,

may be adjusted to the desired position to accommodate varying sizes of nuts.

Although this invention hasbeen described in considera-ble detail, such description is intendedasillustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such invent-ion is to be determined as' claimed.

I claim:

1. A nut cracker comprising a body portion having a stationary head at one end land a. handle at the other, said bodyY portion having marginal side flanges and upturned ears,

inwardly directed spaced lugs on the ears, a,

movable head cooperating with the stationary head and slidably carried by the body portion, said movable head having over-hanging lips slidably engaging the marginal flanges ot' the body` portion and' having a rearwardly projecting extension provided with ratchet teethr onfits upper face, a rocking member provided vitha manipulating handle and pivo-tally mounted between the ears of the body portion, and adapted to engage the said lugs; to limit the movementv of said rocking member in either direction, said rocking member having a springpressed pawl cooperating with the ratchet teeth when the handle of the rocking'member. is moved towards the handle of the body portion.

2. A nut cracker comprising a body portion having astationary head at one end land a handle at the other, said `body portion having marginal Afianges and upturned ears, inwardly directed spaced lugs on the ears, a. movable head cooperating with the stationary head and slidably carried bythe body portion, said movable head having overhanging lips slidably engaging the marginal flangesofV the body portion and having` a rearwarly projecting extension provided forming sto-ps for the said shouldered portions.`

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of IVisconsin.

JOHN WIEMERS 

